Begonia Plant Named &#39;Pauline&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Begonia  cultivar named ‘Pauline’ is disclosed, characterized by its unique light pink flower color and large foliage with an undulating margin. The new cultivar is a  Begonia,  typically suited for ornamental container use.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

Begonia elatior

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Pauline’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is the result of a chance discovery in an existingpopulation of Begonia elatior plants. The new variety originated as anaturally occurring, whole plant mutation of the parent variety, theunpatented commercial variety, Begonia elatior ‘Netja.’ The new varietywas discovered by the inventor in the Fall of 2007 at a commercialgreenhouse in Maasland, the Netherlands.

After selecting and isolating the new cultivar, asexual reproduction ofthe new cultivar ‘Pauline’ was first performed in the same commercialgreenhouse by vegetative cuttings in the winter of 2008. ‘Pauline’ hassince produced several generations and has shown that the uniquefeatures of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Pauline’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Pauline.’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Pauline’ as a new and distinct Begoniacultivar:

-   1. Large foliage, with an undulating margin.-   2. Large flower size.-   3. Distinctive light pink flower color.-   4. Vigorous plants, growing to a large size.

PARENTAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Pauline’ are similar to the parent ‘Netja’in most horticultural characteristics. However, ‘Pauline’ differs inproducing larger foliage with an undulating margin and lighter pinkflowers. Additionally, ‘Pauline’ produces a larger overall plant sizethan ‘Netja.’

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Pauline’ are best compared to the parentvariety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘Pauline’ grown in a greenhouse in Maasland, theNetherlands. This plant is approximately 10 weeks old, shown in a 10 cmpot. The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘Pauline’ plants grown in a greenhouse inMaasland, the Netherlands during the Fall months. Temperatures rangedfrom 18° C. to 20° C. at night to 19° C. to 20° C. during the day. Noartificial light, photoperiodic treatments or chemical treatments weregiven to the plants. Measurements and numerical values representaverages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia elation ‘Pauline’.-   Age of the plant described: Approximately 10 weeks.-   Container size of the plant described: 10 cm commercial container.-   Propagation:-   Time to initiate roots: Summer: 30 to 35 days at approximately    22° C. Winter: 35 to 40 days at approximately 22° C.-   Root description: fine, densely branched, non-fibrous, non-fleshy,    colored near Grey-Brown N199A.-   Plant:-   Growth habit: broad upright.-   Pot size of plant described: 0.8 liter; 12 cm.-   Height: 22.2 cm.-   Plant spread: 26.3 cm.-   Growth rate: Low to moderate.-   Branching characteristics: free branching.-   Length of primary lateral branches: Average 8.4 cm.-   Quantity of primary lateral branches: Average: 3.-   Characteristics of primary lateral branches:    -   -   Form.—rounded.        -   Diameter.—0.8 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 146A/B.        -   Texture.—slightly glossy, very sparsely covered with short            hairs, average length: 1 mm, colored near White NN155D.        -   Strength.—moderate.-   Internode length: 2.5 cm.-   Foliage:-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—alternate.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 4 per branch.        -   Average length.—12.9 cm.        -   Average width.—9.9 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—ovate.        -   Apex.—acute.        -   Base.—hastate, slightly overlapping.        -   Margin.—biserrate, wavy.        -   Texture of top surface.—smooth, velvety.        -   Pubescence.—smooth, except for main veins of under side,            which are very sparsely pubescent with short hairs, average            length: 1 mm, colored near RHS white NN155D.        -   Aspect.—leaf blade horizontal (=0°)to slightly pointed            downward (average angle: 35°).        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green146A            Young foliage under side: A range of colors present between            RHS Yellow-Green 148A to 152A/B. Mature foliage upper side:            Near RHS N137D Mature foliage under side: Near RHS            Greyed-Green 191A.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: RHS            Yellow-Green 144A Venation color under side: RHS            Yellow-Green 147C.        -   Petiole.—Length: 6.5 cm. Diameter: 0.45 cm. Color: RHS            Yellow-Green 146D Texture: sparsely covered with short            hairs, average length: 1.5 mm, colored near RHS white            NN155D.        -   Stipule description.—Length: 1.6 cm. Diameter: 1.7 cm.            Color: RHS Yellow-Green 145B Texture: smooth, moderately            glossy.-   Flower:-   Natural flowering season: March until October.-   Days to flowering from rooted cutting: 8 to 10 weeks.-   Inflorescence and flower type and habit: axillary and terminal    clusters; individual flowers fully double.-   Rate of flower opening: 5 to 10 days from bud to fully opened    flower.-   Flower longevity on plant: approximately 28 days.-   Persistent or self-cleaning: self-cleaning.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—ovate to deltoid.        -   Length.—2.8 cm.        -   Diameter.—1.5 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 145C.-   Flower size:    -   -   Diameter.—6.2 cm.        -   Depth.—2.4 cm.-   Petals:    -   -   Quantity.—2.        -   Arrangement.—opposite.        -   Length.—4.1 cm.        -   Width.—5.6 cm.        -   Shape.—reniform.        -   Apex.—broad rounded.        -   Base.—truncate to reniform.        -   Margin.—irregular crenulate, undulate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—both surfaces smooth,            upper side slightly glossy, lower side moderately glossy.        -   Color.—When opening, upper surface: Near RHS Red 52D, base            Yellow-Green 145D When opening, lower surface: Near RHS Red            52D, base Yellow-Green 145D Fully opened, upper surface:            Near RHS Red 48C, edged 47B and 47C, both colors present,            base Yellow-Green 145D Fully opened, lower surface: Near RHS            Red 49C and 49D, both colors present edged 47C, base            Yellow-Green 145D.-   Spurs: not present.-   Petaloids:    -   -   Quantity.—average: 15.        -   Length.—2.5 cm.        -   Width.—3.0 cm.        -   Shape (overall).—orbicular to reniform Apex: rounded Base:            reniform.        -   Margin.—irregular crenulate, undulate.        -   Color.—Near RHS Red 52C, base Yellow-Green 145D and lighter.-   Peduncles:    -   -   Length.—2.2 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.25 cm.        -   Angle.—About 15° to the lateral branch.        -   Strength.—weak.        -   Texture.—slightly glossy, moderately covered with very short            glandular hairs, average length: 0.3 mm, colored            Yellow-Green 145D.        -   Color.—RHS Yellow-Green 145B.-   Fragrance: No.-   Reproductive organs:-   Stamens: No stamens observed.-   Anthers: No anthers observed.-   Pistil: No pistil observed.-   Other characteristics:-   Seeds and fruits: No seeds/fruits observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    normal pathogens and pests of Begonia elatior have been observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Indoor plant, no frost tolerance.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Begonia elatior plant named ‘Pauline’as herein illustrated and described.